The New Archaic: Kind of Like a Bonham and Yorke Bath

Based in Encinitas, the New Archaic was formed in early 2007 by Joe Harrison (guitar, keys, vocals) and Sean Carroll (drums), friends since grade school. The duo emerged from the local punk scene with their previous band, the Wrecking Crew, which toured with the Adolescents. The New Archaic is rounded out by Tolan Shaw (lead vocals, keys, guitar) and Tim McNalley (bass, vocals).

In early 2009, they released a four-song, self-titled EP produced by Grammy-nominated producer Steve Churchyard and Big Fish Studios engineer Ben Moore. Their close association with fellow Encinitas band Switchfoot got them an invite to play last year’s Switchfoot Bro-Am.

The New Archaic won Best New Artist at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards, the same trophy won 12 years earlier by Switchfoot. Their debut album Movers and Fakers was released in June.

Flying Lotus, Los Angeles. “Cool intimate vibe and a great record [to listen to through] headphones.”

The Emerson Quartet, Debussy and Ravel: String Quartets. “They still sound fresh a century after they were written.”

Tim McNalley:

The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Birds of Fire. “It has some beautifully intricate instrumental music.”

Radiohead, In Rainbows. “Really luscious songs.”

Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidananda. “It’s the kind of music that puts you in a trance.”

Sean Carroll: “My CD player in my car is broken, so I mostly listen to my iPod on shuffle, so I don’t listen to songs over and over again.”

WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE?

Shaw:

“Keep the number of countries I have visited higher than my age.”

“Write a thousand songs.”

“Run a marathon. Naked.”

Harrison:

“Tame a bull.”

“Swim in the Black Sea.”

“Stop and smell the roses.”

McNalley: “I really want to find myself in a room that is covered in little knobs and buttons that, when you twist and push, make all kinds of fun sounds.”

Carroll: “Travel the world.”

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?

Shaw: “Indie alternative rock with textural elements and layers that catch your interest and make us stand out from other bands.”

Harrison: “It kinda sounds like if John Bonham and Thom Yorke were taking a bath together, while Brian Eno was in the kitchen making an omelet, and Motown’s back-catalog was in the basement doing laundry.”

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WHAT SONG LYRIC BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE?
Shaw: “‘If You’re Into It’ by Flight of the Conchords -- ‘Is that what you’re into/ Him and you in the nude/ That’s what he’s prepared to do/ Is that the kinda thing that you think you might be into?’”